A10345:2268
The sum of the conference between John Rainoldes and John Hart touching the head…The summe of the conference betwene Iohn Rainoldes and Iohn Hart touching the head…
The sum of the conference between John Rainoldes and John Hart touching the head and the faith of the Church. Wherein by the way are handled sundry points, of the sufficiency and right expounding of the Scriptures, the ministry of the Church, the function of priesthood, the sacrifice of the mass, with other controversies of religion: but chiefly and purposely the point of Church-government ... Penned by John Rainoldes, according to the notes set down in writing by them both: perused by John Hart, and (after things supplied, & altered, as he thought good) allowed for the faithful report of that which past in conference between them. Whereunto is annexed a treatise entitled, Six conclusions touching the Holy Scripture and the Church, written by John Rainoldes. With a defence of such things as Thomas Stapleton and Gregory Martin have carped at therein.The summe of the conference betwene Iohn Rainoldes and Iohn Hart touching the head and the faith of the Church. Wherein by the way are handled sundrie points, of the sufficiencie and right expounding of the Scriptures, the ministerie of the Church, the function of priesthood, the sacrifice of the masse, with other controuerises of religion: but chiefly and purposely the point of Church-gouernment ... Penned by Iohn Rainoldes, according to the notes set downe in writing by them both: perused by Iohn Hart, and (after things supplied, & altered, as he thought good) allowed for the faithfull report of that which past in conference betwene them. Whereunto is annexed a treatise intitled, Six conclusions touching the Holie Scripture and the Church, writen by Iohn Rainoldes. With a defence of such thinges as Thomas Stapleton and Gregorie Martin haue carped at therein.
Londini: printed by John Wolfe, 1584Londini: printed by Iohn Wolfe, 1584
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now, it there be any thing wherein it is very convenient and behoofefull, both for Christian ⟨p. 707⟩soldiers to be well practised, against the mischievous attempts of their enemies; and the gold of Christian truth to be throughly cleansed from the dross, the wheat from the cha••e, by the pains of husbandmen and workmen of the church: doubtless, th•s, which I have chosen to debate of, is so profitable, being known; so perilous, unknown; that we have great cause to bend all our wits unto the search & knowledge of it. For there have assailed the Church now this great while, and scatteredly there range, they, of whom bChrist hath warned us to beware, whom cPeter did foretell of that they should be in the Church, I mean false teachers, and false prophets: who coming to us in the clothing of sheep, yet being ravening wolves in their hearts and deeds, naming them selves the Church as if they were the only sheep of Christ, do teach damnable heresies, and blaspheme the way of truth. To spread the infection of the which pestilence farther amongst the faithful: as Rabsakeh the Assyrian, dwhen he did solicit Jerusalem to fall from God, did use the name of God against the people of God: so that Romish Rabsakeh the enemy of the new Jerusalem, doth use the Churches name against the children of the Church. He saith that Christians ought to believe the Catholic Church: and that no Church is Catholic at all but the church of Rome: and that we therefore who have forsaken it, have fallen away from the communion of the catholic Church: moreover, that there can not be any hope of salvation out of the Church: and therefore that all, who either leave the Church of Rome, or join them selves to any of our reformed Churches, must needs be lost for ever. This fair but false visard of the catholic Church, doth lead many simple men out of the way: who shun the catholic faith, while they are afraid least they should fall from the faith; & dare not join them selves with the Church of Christ, least they should be severed from the communion of the Church. So that we may justly say to the Bishops of Rome at this day, that which